t yet we should be thankful
That Nature still allows us
To carry on our weary backs
The wherewithal to house us.'"

"Correct!" blurted out the Turtle from under the ex-Pirate's arm. "Is
there any danger of these pistols going off?"

"No," replied the ex-Pirate; "they are loaded."

"That's all right, then," he said, with a sigh of relief; "I was afraid
they were not loaded."

Tommy and the ex-Pirate, with the Turtles under their arms, picked their
way through the trees toward the Ark. As they advanced they could hear
sounds as of a vast congregation of creatures, and at last, when they
came to the edge of the woods, they looked out upon a broad plain, in
the centre of which rested the huge house-boat that Noah had
constructed. Around it were gathered hundreds and hundreds of animals,
and in the air above were flying countless birds.

[Illustration: "WHY, THAT ARK IS JUST LIKE MINE!" EXCLAIMED TOMMY.]

"Why, that Ark is just like mine!" exclaimed Tommy, "only a million
times larger." The ex-Pirate looked at him in a half-surprised way, but
made no reply.

"I guess you can drop us here," then said Tommy's Turtle; "and we are
ever so much obliged." As soon as the two creatures had been put down
upon the ground again they scampered off in the direction of the Ark as
fast as their legs would carry them.

"Now what shall _we_ do?" said Tommy.

"I guess we had better hold a council of war. When you don't know what
to do, always hold a council of war," answered the ex-Pirate, and the
two sat down in the shade of a big oak to consult.

[TO BE CONTINUED.]

[Illustration: INTERSCHOLASTIC SPORT]

[Illustration: LEONARD E. WARE.]

Ware has turned the tables on Whitman. They met in the finals at
Newcastle, but it was 6-4, 7-5, 4-6, and 5-7 before the interscholastic
champion could make it 8-6 in the fifth set, and call the tournament
his. There was good playing that day, and the schools can take pride in
the fact that they are sending new material, and better, into the tennis
ranks this season than has entered for many a year. These new-comers are
putting up a careful, steady game too. The principal failing of young
and promising players in former years has been their inclination to play
more for the benefit of the spectators than for the points of the game.
But to sacrifice points for applause is a very evident absurdity, and so
I was glad to see at the Wentworth that most of the men aimed to put up